Isabel Murray's Blog, page 2
January 24, 2025
A tiny snippet from Not That Ridiculous, and I'm on Bluesky!
It’s far too late to be saying Happy New Year, so I’ll just say Happy Friday instead—the weekend is almost here, and since this week seems to have lasted a decade already, it's more than welcome!
I’ve been popping onto Goodreads to post the occasional blog for a year now, and at the beginning of December, I joined Bluesky (here I am!). It took about a month to actually get going and post anything over there, and I'm still figuring it out 😆. I know there's technically a way I'm supposed to do it as an author but, eh. At the moment I'm just randomly following accounts that catch my eye and posting writing stuff every now and then. 🤷🏻♀️
I'm also posting the odd snippet, like this one from the upcoming Not That Ridiculous:
“Tomorrow, Charlie, I’m going to come into your coffee shop like always. Only tomorrow, you’re going to know the whole time that I’m thinking about this. About you. About doing this to you.”
I finished another draft of Not That Ridiculous this week, and next week I'll be moving into the copyediting phase.
It's finally starting to feel like a book and not just a document sitting on my computer!
Isabel 😁
I’ve been popping onto Goodreads to post the occasional blog for a year now, and at the beginning of December, I joined Bluesky (here I am!). It took about a month to actually get going and post anything over there, and I'm still figuring it out 😆. I know there's technically a way I'm supposed to do it as an author but, eh. At the moment I'm just randomly following accounts that catch my eye and posting writing stuff every now and then. 🤷🏻♀️
I'm also posting the odd snippet, like this one from the upcoming Not That Ridiculous:
“Tomorrow, Charlie, I’m going to come into your coffee shop like always. Only tomorrow, you’re going to know the whole time that I’m thinking about this. About you. About doing this to you.”
I finished another draft of Not That Ridiculous this week, and next week I'll be moving into the copyediting phase.
It's finally starting to feel like a book and not just a document sitting on my computer!
Isabel 😁
November 15, 2024
Some details about my latest romcom
At the beginning of October, I mentioned that I'd just finished writing the first draft of a new contemporary romcom. Today, I'm sharing a few more details!
The book is called Not That Ridiculous, and it's book three in the Not That series.
The main characters in this one are Charlie Galloway, the grumpy barista from The Chipped Cup coffee shop, and, uh. Kevin.
You remember Kevin? The handyman who found a certain something under the floorboards in Ray's bedroom in Not That Complicated? No?
Okay, maybe Kevin isn't the most obvious match for Charlie. Charlie would be the first to agree with you there, even though he's been in love with Kevin for a few years now.
Not that he has any intention of letting Kevin--or anyone, ever--know about his inconvenient feelings.
What would be the point? Kevin is young, friendly, and straight. Charlie is worn out, doesn't like people, and is very much not straight.
Except, there's a lot more to Kevin than meets the eye, and Charlie is about to find out how very wrong he's been.
This story is set a few years after Not That Complicated and Not That Impossible, and I'm wading into the edits. I'm hoping to publish in February/March next year. Is it too soon to post a little snippet? Maybe? I'm doing it anyway!
Not That Ridiculous
A little snippet
Kevin came back up the drive with a tool belt slung over his shoulder and a large toolbox in one hand. He set the toolbox on the doorstep and straightened, staring at me as he slid the belt off his shoulder, slung it around his hips, and buckled it. Slowly. Lingeringly.
“What is this, a reverse striptease?” I said, trying to cover the fact that my breathing had sped up.
“I’m just standing here putting my tool belt on, Charlie,” he said. “Why? Is it turning you on?”
“Nope.” Only because watching him bend over and get his toolbox out of the back of his Land Cruiser had already done the job. I reached out and unpoppered one of the little pouches hanging from the belt. “What on earth do you even need all of these for, anyway?”
“Bits and bobs,” he said. He wrapped his long fingers around my wrist, but not to stop me investigating or to pull me away. Just to hold me.
He liked to hold me.
The book is called Not That Ridiculous, and it's book three in the Not That series.
The main characters in this one are Charlie Galloway, the grumpy barista from The Chipped Cup coffee shop, and, uh. Kevin.
You remember Kevin? The handyman who found a certain something under the floorboards in Ray's bedroom in Not That Complicated? No?
Okay, maybe Kevin isn't the most obvious match for Charlie. Charlie would be the first to agree with you there, even though he's been in love with Kevin for a few years now.
Not that he has any intention of letting Kevin--or anyone, ever--know about his inconvenient feelings.
What would be the point? Kevin is young, friendly, and straight. Charlie is worn out, doesn't like people, and is very much not straight.
Except, there's a lot more to Kevin than meets the eye, and Charlie is about to find out how very wrong he's been.
This story is set a few years after Not That Complicated and Not That Impossible, and I'm wading into the edits. I'm hoping to publish in February/March next year. Is it too soon to post a little snippet? Maybe? I'm doing it anyway!
Not That Ridiculous
A little snippet
Kevin came back up the drive with a tool belt slung over his shoulder and a large toolbox in one hand. He set the toolbox on the doorstep and straightened, staring at me as he slid the belt off his shoulder, slung it around his hips, and buckled it. Slowly. Lingeringly.
“What is this, a reverse striptease?” I said, trying to cover the fact that my breathing had sped up.
“I’m just standing here putting my tool belt on, Charlie,” he said. “Why? Is it turning you on?”
“Nope.” Only because watching him bend over and get his toolbox out of the back of his Land Cruiser had already done the job. I reached out and unpoppered one of the little pouches hanging from the belt. “What on earth do you even need all of these for, anyway?”
“Bits and bobs,” he said. He wrapped his long fingers around my wrist, but not to stop me investigating or to pull me away. Just to hold me.
He liked to hold me.
October 11, 2024
Gary is on sale in US and Canada
Gary of a Hundred Days
is a Kindle Monthly Deal in the US and Canada right now and for the rest of October, so if that's your local store and you fancy a copy at half price, you can scoot over and grab one for $1.49!
Gary on Amazon US
Gary on Amazon CA
And because it feels awkward just posting about a sale, here's a little writing update!
Yesterday, I finished the first draft of the contemporary romcom I mentioned back in August's blog. You can tell how much fun I've had writing it, because it's my longest book yet at over 100k words, and the first thing I did this morning was open a new document and start writing a companion bonus story 😆.
Isabel 😁
Gary on Amazon US
Gary on Amazon CA
And because it feels awkward just posting about a sale, here's a little writing update!
Yesterday, I finished the first draft of the contemporary romcom I mentioned back in August's blog. You can tell how much fun I've had writing it, because it's my longest book yet at over 100k words, and the first thing I did this morning was open a new document and start writing a companion bonus story 😆.
Isabel 😁
September 4, 2024
New fantasy romance release update!
Hello!
I've had a couple of readers tell me that The Naiad's Wish isn't showing up on their Amazon store, so I thought I'd post some buy links in case anyone with the same issue stumbles on this blog post.
Here are the direct links for the UK, Germany, and Spain:
For the UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DFZG319J
For Germany: https://www.amazon.de/dp/B0DFZG319J
For Spain: https://www.amazon.es/dp/B0DFZG319J
If anyone else is having an issue, another solution is to use the buy button on the book's Goodreads page, which should take you to your country's store.
Isabel 😁
I've had a couple of readers tell me that The Naiad's Wish isn't showing up on their Amazon store, so I thought I'd post some buy links in case anyone with the same issue stumbles on this blog post.
Here are the direct links for the UK, Germany, and Spain:
For the UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DFZG319J
For Germany: https://www.amazon.de/dp/B0DFZG319J
For Spain: https://www.amazon.es/dp/B0DFZG319J
If anyone else is having an issue, another solution is to use the buy button on the book's Goodreads page, which should take you to your country's store.
Isabel 😁
New fantasy romance release!
My fantasy romance novelette,
The Naiad's Wish,
is live on Amazon now!
You can buy a copy for 99c, or read it via Kindle Unlimited.
Here's the blurb:
Sayan never expected to fall for a human. He certainly never expected to bind himself to one, and yet that is exactly what he did.
He’d do it again.
Over and over again, he’d choose Erik.
But…
He just wished that Erik would stop leaving him, and going off to attend to his ‘responsibilities’ in the city.
If only Sayan could think of something to make him stay…
The Naiad's Wish is an 11 000-word novelette about an insecure and possessive naiad and his patient human mate, with a minor tantrum, a joyful reunion, and more than a little bit of heat as Erik and Sayan smooth out a wrinkle or two in their new relationship.
This is best read after The Naiad's Gift , book one in the Immortal Bonds series.
***
Here's the Amazon link
What do you think? If you're in the mood for a short read between bigger books and you like a bit of hurt/comfort along with the hot stuff, you might like to check it out!
You can buy a copy for 99c, or read it via Kindle Unlimited.
Here's the blurb:
Sayan never expected to fall for a human. He certainly never expected to bind himself to one, and yet that is exactly what he did.
He’d do it again.
Over and over again, he’d choose Erik.
But…
He just wished that Erik would stop leaving him, and going off to attend to his ‘responsibilities’ in the city.
If only Sayan could think of something to make him stay…
The Naiad's Wish is an 11 000-word novelette about an insecure and possessive naiad and his patient human mate, with a minor tantrum, a joyful reunion, and more than a little bit of heat as Erik and Sayan smooth out a wrinkle or two in their new relationship.
This is best read after The Naiad's Gift , book one in the Immortal Bonds series.
***
Here's the Amazon link
What do you think? If you're in the mood for a short read between bigger books and you like a bit of hurt/comfort along with the hot stuff, you might like to check it out!
August 16, 2024
A late summer update!
It's still technically summer (for another couple of weeks anyway), but here in the UK, I'm seeing signs of approaching autumn. There are apples on the trees and berries in the hedgerows, and even though the days are still (mostly) hot and sunny, the early mornings when I sit out with my coffee and notebook have a bit of a nip to them. Anyway, since it's mid-August, I thought that now would be a good time to post a quick update on my publishing plans for the rest of the year!
Right now I'm in the middle of writing a full-length contemporary romcom, and I'm hoping to have that out towards the beginning of next year.
Before then, I have a couple of shorter stories that I've decided to put up on Amazon.
They're both cosy slice-of-life/after-the-HEA stories featuring Erik and Sayan, the main characters from The Naiad's Gift, which means they're low-angst fantasy romance rather than romcoms.
One is a novelette at about 11 000 words, in which Sayan gets dramatic about Erik leaving him while he visits the city, and then gets even more dramatic about it when Erik comes home. The other is a novella that is currently around 20 000 words, in which Sayan is determined to teach Erik how to swim, whether Erik likes it or not (he doesn't.)
I'll be publishing the novelette in September, and the novella is looking like October/November. Whenever I do release them, I'll post a quick update here on Goodreads to let anyone who's interested know!
Right now I'm in the middle of writing a full-length contemporary romcom, and I'm hoping to have that out towards the beginning of next year.
Before then, I have a couple of shorter stories that I've decided to put up on Amazon.
They're both cosy slice-of-life/after-the-HEA stories featuring Erik and Sayan, the main characters from The Naiad's Gift, which means they're low-angst fantasy romance rather than romcoms.
One is a novelette at about 11 000 words, in which Sayan gets dramatic about Erik leaving him while he visits the city, and then gets even more dramatic about it when Erik comes home. The other is a novella that is currently around 20 000 words, in which Sayan is determined to teach Erik how to swim, whether Erik likes it or not (he doesn't.)
I'll be publishing the novelette in September, and the novella is looking like October/November. Whenever I do release them, I'll post a quick update here on Goodreads to let anyone who's interested know!
June 6, 2024
First Dates and Birthday Cakes!
I have a new romantic comedy novella out, called
First Dates and Birthday Cakes!
Here's the blurb
Ben Porter is turning forty, and he’s not being cool about it.
He told his friends and family that he wanted to let this particular milestone pass by without any fuss, and for once, they actually listened.
Which is great. Because now here he is, sitting in his kitchen on a rainy Saturday morning, all alone, and he can feel himself aging.
So he decides to do something about it.
And maybe throwing himself a last-minute ice-skating party for one in an attempt to recreate the carefree birthdays of his expired youth wasn’t the best idea. Or the most normal. He’d even go so far as to say it was a terrible idea, as there’s a non-zero chance that his impromptu birthday activity will turn into an impromptu birthday trip to the hospital. Because despite the fact that he remembers being pretty hot stuff at skating?
He’s not. He’s really, really not.
He’s so incredibly bad at it that a tall, gorgeous member of staff—who actually is pretty hot stuff—has to come over and scrape him off the ice, just so he stops ruining everyone else’s Saturday.
Except Jake isn’t a member of staff, he has an ulterior (romantic!) motive for helping Ben, and Ben’s worst birthday ever is about to take a surprising turn for the better…
First Dates and Birthday Cakes is a 33k-word romantic comedy novella with a midlife crisis, a big surprise that Ben really should have seen coming, and something that looks a whole lot like happily ever after.
And here's the Amazon link
First Dates and Birthday Cakes
This novella is set in Chipping Fairford, the same (fictional) Cotswolds town of my Not That series, and has the same kind of vibe--so if you liked those books, you might like this one! 😆
It's available on Amazon now, to buy or in Kindle Unlimited.
If you read it, I really hope you enjoy it!
Here's the blurb
Ben Porter is turning forty, and he’s not being cool about it.
He told his friends and family that he wanted to let this particular milestone pass by without any fuss, and for once, they actually listened.
Which is great. Because now here he is, sitting in his kitchen on a rainy Saturday morning, all alone, and he can feel himself aging.
So he decides to do something about it.
And maybe throwing himself a last-minute ice-skating party for one in an attempt to recreate the carefree birthdays of his expired youth wasn’t the best idea. Or the most normal. He’d even go so far as to say it was a terrible idea, as there’s a non-zero chance that his impromptu birthday activity will turn into an impromptu birthday trip to the hospital. Because despite the fact that he remembers being pretty hot stuff at skating?
He’s not. He’s really, really not.
He’s so incredibly bad at it that a tall, gorgeous member of staff—who actually is pretty hot stuff—has to come over and scrape him off the ice, just so he stops ruining everyone else’s Saturday.
Except Jake isn’t a member of staff, he has an ulterior (romantic!) motive for helping Ben, and Ben’s worst birthday ever is about to take a surprising turn for the better…
First Dates and Birthday Cakes is a 33k-word romantic comedy novella with a midlife crisis, a big surprise that Ben really should have seen coming, and something that looks a whole lot like happily ever after.
And here's the Amazon link
First Dates and Birthday Cakes
This novella is set in Chipping Fairford, the same (fictional) Cotswolds town of my Not That series, and has the same kind of vibe--so if you liked those books, you might like this one! 😆
It's available on Amazon now, to buy or in Kindle Unlimited.
If you read it, I really hope you enjoy it!
February 28, 2024
Gary the Once and Former King is live!
My latest release,
Gary the Once and Former King (The Unwanted King #2)
is live on Amazon now!
I’ve been working on this book for months, and I have to say, it’s been one of the most fun of my books to write thus far. I’ve loved spending more time with Gary and Magnus, and getting a closer look at how their lives together post-Gary of a Hundred Days worked out.
When I published the first book back in 2022 (😱) I genuinely didn’t think there was any story left that needed to be told, other than perhaps the odd short here or there, but I’ve got 62 000 words right here that say otherwise:
The Kingdom of Estla is in turmoil. Power plays, intrigue, and plots seethe in the corridors of power. And Gary of a Hundred Days, Last of the Tyrant Kings is…well.
He’s dead.
That’s what (almost) everyone thinks, anyway.
As far as Gary’s concerned, they can go ahead and keep thinking it. He’s busy living a whole new life with his beloved Magnus on a homestead in the heartland of Caithen—a kingdom where they don’t want to kill him—and he’s learning all sorts of interesting things about exactly what it means to be a husband and a bondmate.
Okay, he’s trying to learn. It’s turning out to be a lot harder than he thought.
Callin, the ex-stable lad and Gary’s new (first!) best friend, has been less than helpful when it comes to giving Gary the correct advice on how to proceed in intimate matters.
The books Gary ordered for instructional purposes are taking forever to arrive.
And just as he’s starting to make progress in the bedchamber, Gary’s past as the rightful King of Estla rises up once more…
Gary the Once and Former King is a sequel to Gary of a Hundred Days. It’s a low-angst fantasy romantic comedy in which a sheltered ex-king continues to undergo quite the awakening at the hands of his rugged ex-stable master, and everyone’s still way more interested in kissing and romance than in all that rightful heir to the throne business.
And this time?
Gary’s definitely getting his happily ever after.
If that sounds like something you’d be interested in reading, it's available on Amazon now, to buy or in Kindle Unlimited.
Here's the link!
I’ve been working on this book for months, and I have to say, it’s been one of the most fun of my books to write thus far. I’ve loved spending more time with Gary and Magnus, and getting a closer look at how their lives together post-Gary of a Hundred Days worked out.
When I published the first book back in 2022 (😱) I genuinely didn’t think there was any story left that needed to be told, other than perhaps the odd short here or there, but I’ve got 62 000 words right here that say otherwise:
The Kingdom of Estla is in turmoil. Power plays, intrigue, and plots seethe in the corridors of power. And Gary of a Hundred Days, Last of the Tyrant Kings is…well.
He’s dead.
That’s what (almost) everyone thinks, anyway.
As far as Gary’s concerned, they can go ahead and keep thinking it. He’s busy living a whole new life with his beloved Magnus on a homestead in the heartland of Caithen—a kingdom where they don’t want to kill him—and he’s learning all sorts of interesting things about exactly what it means to be a husband and a bondmate.
Okay, he’s trying to learn. It’s turning out to be a lot harder than he thought.
Callin, the ex-stable lad and Gary’s new (first!) best friend, has been less than helpful when it comes to giving Gary the correct advice on how to proceed in intimate matters.
The books Gary ordered for instructional purposes are taking forever to arrive.
And just as he’s starting to make progress in the bedchamber, Gary’s past as the rightful King of Estla rises up once more…
Gary the Once and Former King is a sequel to Gary of a Hundred Days. It’s a low-angst fantasy romantic comedy in which a sheltered ex-king continues to undergo quite the awakening at the hands of his rugged ex-stable master, and everyone’s still way more interested in kissing and romance than in all that rightful heir to the throne business.
And this time?
Gary’s definitely getting his happily ever after.
If that sounds like something you’d be interested in reading, it's available on Amazon now, to buy or in Kindle Unlimited.
Here's the link!
February 9, 2024
News about my upcoming release
I’ve written standalone books before—most of my books are standalone, in fact—and I’ve written a series, but until recently, I’d never written a sequel.
I have now! 😆
My upcoming release is a follow-up to my fantasy romcom, Gary of a Hundred Days.
I’m hoping to publish Gary the Once and Former King at the end of the month, and if you like the sound of an oblivious ex-king (so oblivious), a strong and determined ex-stable master who will do anything for his oblivious husband (who doesn't like a strong and determined stable master?), a pinch of drama and a significantly bigger pinch of humour in your fantasy, you might like to check it out!
Here’s a tiny snippet:
“Stop fussing about it and eat your peas,” Arne told me. “Everyone here knows you were once the King of Estla, no one thinks you’re a monster, and the past is in the past. Long may it stay that way.”
Would it? If everyone here knew I was the king and news traveled, then it stood to reason that news could travel to the Palace in Jarra.
“Nobody will come after me, will they?” I asked.
“No,” he said immediately and with the utmost confidence. “You’re safe here.” He pointed at my plate.
I ate my peas.
And I believed him.
I have now! 😆
My upcoming release is a follow-up to my fantasy romcom, Gary of a Hundred Days.
I’m hoping to publish Gary the Once and Former King at the end of the month, and if you like the sound of an oblivious ex-king (so oblivious), a strong and determined ex-stable master who will do anything for his oblivious husband (who doesn't like a strong and determined stable master?), a pinch of drama and a significantly bigger pinch of humour in your fantasy, you might like to check it out!
Here’s a tiny snippet:
“Stop fussing about it and eat your peas,” Arne told me. “Everyone here knows you were once the King of Estla, no one thinks you’re a monster, and the past is in the past. Long may it stay that way.”
Would it? If everyone here knew I was the king and news traveled, then it stood to reason that news could travel to the Palace in Jarra.
“Nobody will come after me, will they?” I asked.
“No,” he said immediately and with the utmost confidence. “You’re safe here.” He pointed at my plate.
I ate my peas.
And I believed him.
January 12, 2024
Hello and a New Year update
Hello! I’m trying things a little bit differently in 2024, and this blog post is one of them!
As you can probably tell from the lack of links in my bio, I’m not on social media, but I thought it might be fun to have a go posting updates here on Goodreads for anyone who isn’t into newsletters but is curious about what I’m working on and when I’m planning to publish next.
So…updates!
I have a couple of things in progress right now. I’m busy editing both a romantic comedy novella and a full-length book, and of course I’m writing new stuff, even though maybe I should learn how to focus a bit better this year.
I’m still deciding whether to publish the book or the novella first, but whichever one I end up choosing, my goal (hope) is to have it up on Amazon some time in February/March.
Happy reading in 2024!
As you can probably tell from the lack of links in my bio, I’m not on social media, but I thought it might be fun to have a go posting updates here on Goodreads for anyone who isn’t into newsletters but is curious about what I’m working on and when I’m planning to publish next.
So…updates!
I have a couple of things in progress right now. I’m busy editing both a romantic comedy novella and a full-length book, and of course I’m writing new stuff, even though maybe I should learn how to focus a bit better this year.
I’m still deciding whether to publish the book or the novella first, but whichever one I end up choosing, my goal (hope) is to have it up on Amazon some time in February/March.
Happy reading in 2024!
